Farmers cut down clove trees

CIANJUR, West Java: Thousands of clove trees in Cibinong district, Cianjur regency, were cut down on Saturday by farmers just before the cloves were to be harvested.

The farmers took this action because of the drastic decrease in clove prices in the regency, which are established by local brokers.

Dried cloves usually sell for Rp 70,000 (US$8.60) per kilogram, but farmers can now only get Rp 13,000 per kilogram for the cloves.

Fresh cloves used to fetch Rp 25,000 per kilogram but that price has plummeted to only Rp 3,000 per kilogram.

The head of the Cianjur Clove Association, Ajet Mujijat, called on the regency administration to help the farmers establish more favorable prices with local brokers. -- Antara